Scottish Executive

Airports

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received about any proposed meeting between representatives of Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) and Ryanair on 19 June 2002; what assistance it will provide to HIAL in order to ensure that there is a successful outcome to any such negotiations on the establishment of new routes from Highlands and Islands airports; in particular, whether it will provide any assistance in respect of landing charges, and what steps it will take to see the growth of air routes and passenger numbers within areas served by HIAL.

Lewis Macdonald: The meeting between Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) and Ryanair on 19   June follows on from a meeting on 25 April about the possibility of the Irish carrier operating from HIAL airports. Meetings between HIAL and its users and potential users are a commercial matter for the airport operator.

  The Scottish Executive is providing record levels of support to HIAL to maintain the airport infrastructure for essential air services in the Highlands and Islands. This support also allows HIAL to offer substantial discounts on landing charges for new services or increased frequencies which would lead to increased passenger numbers.

Central Heating

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an update on the central heating installation programme in West Dunbartonshire.

Hugh Henry: West Dunbartonshire Council installed 72 central heating systems in their stock in 2001-02. Information on the number of installations in the private sector is not collected by local authority area. No housing associations in West Dunbartonshire are eligible for the programme because all stock in the area has central heating.

Community Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve street safety throughout Dunbartonshire.

Dr Richard Simpson: The level of funding provided to police forces is now at record levels as are police numbers.

  It is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police to determine how to use the funding at his disposal to meet local needs and priorities within the Strathclyde area. I understand that initiatives are planned in both East and West Dunbartonshire during the summer months to provide an enhanced visible police presence in order to deter youth disorder and other aspects of criminal behaviour.

  In addition, under the previous challenge funding arrangements for CCTV and community safety we have partially funded CCTV projects in Clydebank Town Centre, Dumbarton Town Centre, New Bonhill, Bishopbriggs and a system covering Bearsden, Kirkintilloch, Lenzie and Milngavie, as well as youth shelters in West Dunbartonshire.

  On 31 October 2001 we announced details of a new Community Safety Partnership Award programme to supersede both the CCTV and Community Safety Challenge Competitions. The Programme will allow Community Safety Partnerships to secure, for the first time, sustained mainstream funding to be used solely for the purposes of taking forward their community safety agendas and to identify and address local priorities. For 2002-03 West Dunbartonshire Community Safety Partnership has been allocated a total community safety award of £118,491.54 and East Dunbartonshire Community Safety Partnership have been allocated £94,530.47.

  Substantial additional resources have also been allocated to the Dunbartonshire area to tackle drug misuse.

Employment

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist long-term unemployed people in West Dunbartonshire.

Iain Gray: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government. Jobcentre Plus offers long-term unemployed people in West Dunbartonshire a range of services including access to New Deal programmes and an Action Team for Jobs to assist them into work. Scottish Executive initiatives, such as Training for Work and the New Futures Fund, are also available.

Enterprise

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been invested by Scottish Enterprise through its business start-up programme in Dunbartonshire and how successful the programme has been at providing assistance to individuals and teams planning to create businesses.

Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. With regard to wider evaluation matters, Scottish Enterprise launched their New Approach to Entrepreneurship in January 2002. This addresses a range of issues relevant to Scotland's business start-up rate, and was developed following a review of Scottish Enterprise's Business Birth Rate Strategy by the Fraser of Allander Institute, completed in June 2001.

Enterprise

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how successful the Dunbartonshire Export Partnership has been in developing overseas business for companies in Dunbartonshire.

Iain Gray: Dunbartonshire Export Partnership is one of the 13 local export partnerships that cover the whole of Scotland, each of which plays an important role in focussing the trade development activities of the local enterprise company, local authority and Chamber of Commerce. They are responsible for enabling companies to reach a stage where they are ready to compete overseas and in financial year 2001-02 Dunbartonshire Export Partnership assisted six companies to trade overseas for the first time and 35 existing exporters to enter new markets.

  The assistance provided by Dunbartonshire Export Partnership is further augmented by Scottish Development International which leads the network of export partnerships and is able to offer additional support and services to companies including assistance through its network of overseas offices.

  One of a range of initiatives undertaken by Dunbartonshire Export Partnership is the establishment of an International Trade Forum in partnership with Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire to make companies aware of the opportunities available in overseas markets. Meetings are held at six-weekly intervals alternately in Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire. Each event provides an overview of market conditions and business practices they are likely to encounter in particular geographic areas.

Enterprise

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how successful Scottish Enterprise has been in attracting inward investment and new international companies to Dunbartonshire.

Iain Gray: In the five years to March 2001, Scottish Development International and its partners helped attract 15 projects to Dunbartonshire involving planned investment of over £51 million and the planned creation or safeguarding of almost 1,500 jobs.

  Scottish Development International continues to work closely with Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire to develop appropriate inward investment opportunities for the area.

Enterprise

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance can be given to companies in Dunbartonshire to boost their businesses through the worldwide web.

Iain Gray: Free or subsidised assistance is available to businesses throughout Scotland on all aspects and levels of ICT adoption, mostly through the enterprise networks. The e-business advisers based in Scottish Enterprise Dumbartonshire, funded by the UK online for business initiative and Scottish Enterprise, provide a range of services that help local businesses to maximise their use of the internet. This includes website audits, advice on skills development for e-business and signposting to other sources of assistance.

Enterprise

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions are being taken to encourage greater innovation within businesses and companies so that they are better placed to compete in international markets.

Iain Gray: The publications A Smart, Successful Scotland and A Science Strategy for Scotland  set out the Executive's programme for competitiveness and growth. Innovation within companies is a key component in this strategy and the Executive and UK Government provide a wide range of initiatives in this area.

  The Global Connections Strategy, launched in October 2001, set out the Executive’s aims for future international economic development activity. The strategy led to the creation of Scottish Development International and one of its key aims is to ensure that companies are able to realise the full benefits of trading in international markets. It provides generic and custom market research and knowledge to Scottish companies and delivers customised strategic market entry support. This covers a wide range of activities including the delivery of all government trade services in Scotland, tailored Market Assistance Programmes and assistance for companies on outward missions and attendance at exhibitions. In addition, Scottish Enterprise’s Global Companies Development Programme addresses innovation as part of its aim to support the deeper internationalisation of potential Scottish global organisations.

Enterprise

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist small businesses in Dunbartonshire to take on more staff.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is working directly with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to improve the quality and consistency of support for business start-ups and small businesses throughout Scotland. A number of measures have been introduced including the Small Business Gateway (SBG) which covers the Dunbartonshire area. The SBG provides consistent support and advice on all aspects of running a business, including on taking on more staff.

  Although employment is a reserved matter, the Executive also works with Jobcentre Plus at a national level to encourage employers throughout Scotland to participate in the range of New Deal programmes available locally.

Enterprise

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small business start-ups there were in west Dunbartonshire over the last three years and how this number and the rate of business start-ups in the area compares to the average throughout Scotland.

Iain Gray: The following table shows the number of businesses registering for VAT in the period 1998 to 2000 in West Dunbarton and Scotland. This is the measure most commonly used to measure business births. It is not a complete picture as not all businesses register and not all registrations are start-ups, but it is a consistent series based on administrative data that provides a comparison over time and place.

  

 

Number of registrations 
  

Rate per 10,000 adults 
  


 

West Dunbartonshire 
  

Scotland 
  

West Dunbartonshire 
  

Scotland 
  



1998 
  

130 
  

11,825 
  

17 
  

29 
  



1999 
  

145 
  

11,410 
  

19 
  

28 
  



2000 
  

130 
  

11,410 
  

17 
  

28

Environment

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are under way in order to ensure the right of the public to clean air that is free of contaminants.

Allan Wilson: A number of initiatives are under way, or proposed, that are designed to eliminate or minimise atmospheric pollution. The Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 impose new, more stringent air pollution controls over a wide range of industrial sectors, phased in on a sector by sector basis between 2001 and 2007. In addition to imposing tighter controls over emissions of pollutants to the atmosphere, the regulations also introduce tighter controls over noise, vibration and odour emissions.

  Stricter controls on emissions from waste incinerators are currently being developed in line with the Waste Incineration Directive. The Executive aims to consult on this during the summer. Tighter controls covering industrial solvent emissions were introduced by directions given to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in March 2002. It is proposed to extend these controls to cover additional industrial sectors following a public consultation later this year.

  In addition, the Environment Act 1995 requires local authorities to carry out a review and assessment of air quality within their areas, and take action where air quality objectives are unlikely to be met within a set timescale. These requirements are set out in The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have been held with Her Majesty’s Government, representatives of fishermen’s organisations and other interested parties concerning the adoption of net-based devices aimed at reducing the inadvertent killing of dolphins during commercial fishing activities.

Allan Wilson: The UK Small Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy Working Group was set up last July to estimate levels of bycatch and identify practical, cost-effective ways of reducing them. The Scottish Executive, other government departments, conservation agencies and the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees are all represented.

  A range of mitigation measures aimed at reducing the levels of dolphin and porpoise bycatch is under consideration. The group plans to produce a UK Bycatch Response Strategy later this year. It is also reviewing a number of gear mitigation measures which, if successful, will be considered in the context of reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and, in consultation with stakeholders, for subsequent introduction in the fisheries concerned.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26283 by Ross Finnie on 5 June 2002, when the stakeholder consultation into a strategy for enhancing disease surveillance is expected to be completed, and how long after completion of the consultation the report will be published.

Ross Finnie: We plan to issue the consultation in the autumn. The document will be revised in the light of consultation responses and will be finalised as soon as possible.

Health

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many more operations could be done each year by the NHS, (b) how many people could be taken off NHS waiting lists, (c) how many local jobs would be generated and (d) what the scope would be for bringing preventative services for cancer and heart disease to Clydebank if the Health Care International complex in Clydebank were absorbed into the NHS.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the statement I made to Parliament on Thursday 20 June.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the expert group on financial and other support arrangements for people who have been harmed by health service treatment is examining the approach to medical compensation adopted in the Republic of Ireland as stipulated in the group’s remit; from whom the expert group has taken evidence, and whether the group expects to publish its interim report by the end of July 2002.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Expert Group on Financial and Other Support has considered evidence from wide ranging sources including information on the approach to medical compensation in the Republic of Ireland for patients who contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood supplies.

  The group will submit their preliminary report to me by the end of July 2002 and it will be made public following discussion with the Health and Community Care Committee. A list of the evidence considered by the group will be included in the preliminary report.

Health

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the one-stop health clinics initiative in Glasgow and whether there are any plans to introduce such clinics in the Clydebank and Milngavie parliamentary constituency.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table lists the one-stop clinics that are currently in place across NHS Greater Glasgow.

  It is for local NHS systems to plan, implement and manage services that best meet the needs of their local populations. I therefore suggest that North Glasgow University Hospital NHS Trust would be best placed to advise the member of any plans it has to introduce further one-stop clinics in the member’s constituency.

  


Service 
  

Location 
  



Anaphylaxis Service 
  

Glasgow Western Infirmary 
  



Breast Clinic 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Breast Clinic 
  

Stobhill Hospital 
  



Breast Clinic 
  

Western Infirmary 
  



Cardiovascular Risk 
  

Gartnavel Hospital 
  



Chest Pain 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Chest Pain 
  

Stobhill Hospital 
  



Chest Pain 
  

Glasgow Western Infirmary 
  



Colorectal Cancer 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Colposcopy 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Counselling Advice 
  

Gartnavel Hospital 
  



Dermatology 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Diabetes 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Diabetes 
  

Stobhill Hospital 
  



Diabetes 
  

Gartnavel General Hospital 
  



Endoscopy 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



ENT - Head & Neck 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



ENT - tonsils 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Genito Urinary Medicine 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Gynaecology 
  

Western Infirmary 
  



Gynaecology, Herald Foundation 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Ophthalmology - cataract pre-assess 
  

Stobhill Hospital 
  



Ophthalmology - cataract pre-assess 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Prostate Assessment 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Rectal Bleeding 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Stroke 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



TB 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Testicular Pain 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Urology 
  

Gartnavel Hospital 
  



Urology 
  

Stobhill Hospital 
  



Urology (Haematuria) 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  



Breast Clinic 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  



Breast Clinic 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Cardiac Clinic 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Chest Pain 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Chest Pain 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  



Dystonia Clinic 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Early Pregnancy Assessment 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



First Seizure Clinic 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Haematuria Clinic 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Hand Clinic 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  



New Diabetes Clinic 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  



Orthopaedic injections 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Osteoporosis 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Post MI Clinic 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  



Rectal Bleeding 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Rectal Bleeding 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Social Gynaecology Service 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Vascular 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  



Cardiology 
  

Yorkhill Hospital 
  



Dermatology 
  

Yorkhill Hospital 
  



Immunisation Clinic 
  

Yorkhill Hospital 
  



Orthopaedic Clinic 
  

Yorkhill Hospital 
  



UTI Clinic 
  

Yorkhill Hospital

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding funding for the Glasgow Western Infirmary Allergy Clinic.

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take in order to prevent any geographical disparity of medical service availability should any NHS board in the west of Scotland not assign adequate revenue to the Glasgow Western Infirmary Allergy Clinic and ensure allergy services for patients in their area.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is for local NHS systems to plan, implement and manage NHS services that best meet the needs of their local populations.

  I understand that discussions are on-going between the NHS boards in the west of Scotland about the provision of a jointly funded regional severe allergy service based at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken in order to implement proposals made by the Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee in September 2000 regarding immunology and allergy services.

Malcolm Chisholm: The implementation of this report is primarily a matter for NHS boards, but the Executive is supporting boards in this task by offering funding for the recruitment of two new consultants in immunology.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for extending allergy services across Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards are expected to meet the health needs of people with allergies in their areas, as is the case with most other conditions. The Scottish Executive is providing funding towards the recruitment of two new consultants in immunology, which should lead to improved services for people with allergies.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to ensure availability of day care beds and full ranges of antibiotics for all allergy clinics.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is for local NHS systems to plan, implement and manage allergy services that best meet the needs of their local populations. In doing so they should take account of the recommendations contained in the report on Immunology and Allergy Services in Scotland , prepared by the Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (SMASAC) and published by the Scottish Executive Health Department in September 2000.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what extra provision will be made available for dermatological teaching in the light of evidence from the British Association of Dermatologists that 15% of all GP consultations involve problems of the skin and yet only 20% of practitioners receive lessons in this field.

Malcolm Chisholm: During their training, GP Registrars (GPR) have regular case review within general practice and are supported by experienced trainers. This ensures that all patient encounters are learning experiences for the GPR.

  GPs, like other professionals, are expected to look at their own personal learning needs and the health needs of their patients and to seek training in specific areas accordingly. Guidance and assistance is available from NHS Education for Scotland (NES) via the postgraduate Directors of General Practice Education. Each GP already receives an annual Postgraduate Education Allowance to support an agreed amount of training. The appraisal process for GPs will, in the future, play a significant part in the needs assessment and satisfactory continuous professional development based on the needs of individuals and the service.

  There are numerous opportunities for GPs who identify dermatological conditions as one of their personal learning needs to access further training. In addition the recent establishment of NES will allow a co-ordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to training in this area.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans for a Scottish equivalent of the Action On Dermatology programme in order to address any under-investment in dermatological services and whether support will be given to achieving a unified core specialist centre, as proposed by NHS Greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are no plans for a Scottish equivalent of the Department of Health’s Action On Dermatology initiative. The Designed Health care Initiative is currently the main centrally driven mechanism for supporting service redesign in NHSScotland. This has led to the development of areas of expertise and experience throughout NHSScotland to support local service redesign activity in dermatology services, including the integrated rapid referral for skin cancer service in Lanarkshire and the redesign of dermatology out-patient services in Grampian.

  While I welcome any proposals that will benefit patients, NHS Greater Glasgow’s plans to centralise dermatology services are at present the subject of public consultation. It would not, therefore, be appropriate for me to comment on the proposals at this time.

Health Technology Board for Scotland

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent Comment delivered by the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) on the National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance for restricting the use of irinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed in the treatment of colorectal cancer is a valid judgement given that the remit of HTBS is to consider how the guidance should be applied in Scotland compared to England and Wales, that there is a higher level of colorectal cancer and poorer survival rate in Scotland and that patients in Scotland may be less likely to be fit for second-line therapy.

Malcolm Chisholm: The HTBS Comment on irinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer considers all relevant differences between Scotland and England and Wales including the important issue of co-morbidity in Scotland.

Homelessness

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the causes of homelessness and reduce the prevalence of homeless households in Dunbartonshire.

Ms Margaret Curran: The primary statutory responsibility for dealing with homelessness rests with local authorities. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, which increased local authority duties and homeless people's rights, also requires all authorities to develop, by March 2003, strategies for the prevention and alleviation of homelessness. The table details funding which the Scottish Executive has allocated to East and West Dunbartonshire Councils to the assist them in discharging their responsibilities.

  


Funding Allocated in the Years from 1997 to 2004 
  

East Dunbartonshire 
  

West Dunbartonshire 
  



RSI funding challenge fund 1997-2002 
  

45,500* 
  

190,357# 
  



RSI funding in 2002-04, (included in authorities’ RSG) 
  

59,300 
  

203,282 
  



Reducing the use of inappropriate temporary accommodation 
  

220,000 
  

- 
  



Implementing the duties imposed by the Housing (Scotland) 
  Act 2001 
  

476,300 
  

732,600 
  



Total funding 
  

801,100 
  

1,126,239 
  



  Notes:

  *The two authorities made a joint bid on the first round of the RSI.

  # This includes a joint project with Argyll and Bute.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance or other assistance has been given to local authorities such as West Dunbartonshire to (a) improve the efficacy of housing repairs and other maintenance, (b) reduce the amount of time taken to re-let council houses, (c) reduce the amount of rent lost due to voids and (d) reduce tenants’ rent arrears.

Hugh Henry: The Secure Tenants Right to Repair (Scotland) Regulations 1994 require local authorities to carry out urgent repairs within a specified time, however, the administration of the housing service is a matter for individual councils. In June 2000 the Accounts Commission and Scottish Homes (now Communities Scotland) published a report Managing Rent Arrears which contained recommendations on how councils could improve their management of rent arrears.

Local Government Finance

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it proposes following its review of the provisions of the Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 1985.

Peter Peacock: We have made a commitment to undertake such a review after work preparing the Local Government in Scotland Bill has been completed. It is therefore too soon to say what changes to the regulations might be proposed.

Local Government Finance

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to ensure that Glasgow City Council has complied fully with the Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 1985 which inter alia require audited accounts to be laid before a meeting of the authority within two months of their receipt from the auditor, given that the council’s accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 were signed by the auditor on 5 October 2001 and considered by the council on 31 January 2002.

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has made, or action it has taken, over the delay in making publicly available the audited accounts for Glasgow City Council for the year ended 31 March 2001.

Peter Peacock: Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that they comply with their statutory responsibilities and are expected to do so. In this instance I understand Glasgow City Council regret the delay and its consequences. Audit Scotland has been discussing the causes of the delay with the council and we will be monitoring the council’s performance in relation to the 2002 accounts.

Modern Apprenticeships

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the participation rate of young people in West Dunbartonshire has been in taking up new apprenticeships in each of the past three years and what actions will be taken to deliver more places and encourage more young people to take on apprenticeships.

Iain Gray: One hundred and forty-eight young people took up a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) in West Dunbartonshire in 1999-2000; 241 in 2000-01, and 261 in 2001-02.

  The Scottish Executive has been working with the enterprise network on a national publicity campaign to raise awareness of MAs generally. Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire is working with West Dunbartonshire Council, Careers Scotland and employers to increase apprenticeship opportunities in a wide range of sectors.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26523 by Ross Finnie on 7 June 2002, on what evidence the designation of each of the nitrate vulnerable zones was based and whether it will publish such evidence in full.

Ross Finnie: The monitoring data and scientific evidence on which the nitrate vulnerable zone designations are based can be found in the British Geological Survey Report (BGS) Groundwater nitrate vulnerable zones for Scotland which is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 18567). It is also available from the BGS website (http://www.bgs.ac.uk/scottishexec) along with a Geographical Information System (GIS) containing individual monitoring site data. A further BGS report on collection of additional monitoring data, Additional groundwater nitrate monitoring sites for Scotland,  is also available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 21922).

Planning

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when the finalised Midlothian Local Plan will be published.

Hugh Henry: The finalised Midlothian Local Plan was published in February 2000 and the public inquiry to hear objections to the plan is due to conclude shortly. The reporter’s recommendations to Midlothian Council are expected in autumn 2002 and further modifications may be required. The subsequent timescale for adoption of the local plan is a matter for Midlothian Council.

Pre-School Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many three-year-olds are expected to benefit from the implementation of the provisions in the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 on universal nursery education.

Cathy Jamieson: Under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act, 2000, local authorities have a duty to secure pre-school education provision for all three- and four-year-old children whose parents wish it.

  Information relating to participation rates for the spring term 2001-02 is currently being collected and we expect to announce the final figures next month. Indications are that the rate for three-year-olds will be around 85% of the eligible population or 51,368 children. It is envisaged that the participation rate for three-year-olds will level off at this rate.

Public Transport

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that all persons aged over 60 will benefit from free off-peak bus travel.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is committed to the equalisation of age eligibility for concessionary travel at age 60 for men and women. Provisions to enable this are included in the Local Government Bill currently before Parliament, and the intention is to implement this policy from 1 April 2003.

  The Executive has reached agreement with COSLA and the local authorities to introduce free local off-peak bus travel within existing scheme areas for elderly and disabled people from October 2002. Assuming that the legislative provisions noted above are approved by the Parliament, persons aged over 60 will automatically become eligible to this entitlement.

Public Transport

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve public transport in isolated rural communities.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive supports public transport improvements in rural areas through the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant. To date £15 million has been awarded to local authorities for new rural public transport services. So far over 400 new or enhanced services, mainly bus but also ferry, have been introduced.

  Further support is provided through the Rural Community Transport Initiative. To date £4.4 million has been awarded to 108 rural community transport (RCT) projects. The latest round announced £683,000 to 20 projects on 31 January 2002.

  In addition the Public Transport Fund has funded a number of capital projects in rural areas that have a direct impact upon public transport provision in these areas.

Rail Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the cost per mile of travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow by rail compares to similar journeys south of the border.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.

Road Safety

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to reduce the number of accidents on the A77 prior to the completion of the scheduled upgrade.

Lewis Macdonald: Extensive Route Accident Reduction Plans have been implemented on the A77 over a number of years. Recent measures to improve safety on the route between Kilmarnock and Malletsheugh have included the introduction of additional signing, road markings, safety fencing and skid-resistant surfacing.

  All these measures contribute to the general safety of the road although the situation will continue to be reviewed pending the completion of the proposed upgrade.

Road Safety

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage safer driving and improve road safety.

Lewis Macdonald: Through the Scottish Road Safety Campaign, the Scottish Executive targets road safety messages at drivers and other road users.

  The campaign’s Driver Behaviour Strategy, which addresses the issues of speeding, drink and drug driving, seatbelt use and young driver safety, aims to modify unsafe and undesirable driver behaviours.

  Campaign initiatives include "Foolsspeed", a long-term campaign which aims to change driver attitudes to speed and speed choice, while "Don’t Risk It" addresses drink driving. On 20 May the campaign launched a new television advert focussing on drug driving. The campaign has also produced adverts on the issues of seat belt use and young driver safety. It has made arrangements for publicity campaigns on all these issues in the current financial year.

  Road safety publicity undertaken by the campaign is evaluated to determine its effectiveness.

Road Safety

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of accidents on roads involved drivers between 17 and 25 in each of the last three years.

Lewis Macdonald: Data about injury road accidents is collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report format. These returns cover only accidents in which one or more people were injured: they do not cover "damage only" accidents.

  The following figures indicate the percentages, of all injury road accidents which involved one or more cars or powered two-wheeled motor vehicles, for which one or more of the drivers or riders involved in each accident was aged between 17 and 25 years inclusive:

  


1999 
  

33% 
  



2000 
  

31% 
  



2001 
  

31%

Road Safety

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Pass Plus schemes contribute to preventing accidents and improving road safety.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive welcomes Pass Plus as a scheme which enables new drivers to gain additional experience and positive driving skills that would otherwise take a long time to acquire. The scheme has been developed by the Driving Standards Agency, which chairs a board that promotes the scheme throughout the UK.

  The Executive understands that there are currently no statistics to show the success of the scheme, but it continues to have the support of participating insurance companies, who offer substantial discounts on premiums to those who complete the course.

Road Safety

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to local authorities for the promotion of road safety and accident prevention schemes, including Pass Plus schemes.

Lewis Macdonald: Recently qualified drivers who participate in the Pass Plus scheme pay a fee to driving instructors for an additional course of instruction designed to equip them with additional experience and driving skills in areas such as driving at night and in all weathers.

  Local authorities receive a block allocation for a range of services, including transport. It is for each local authority to decide spending priorities on road safety, including the promotion of Pass Plus, based on local needs.

  The Scottish Executive has provided additional resources to local authorities for Safer Routes To School and for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects. These total over £21 million over the period 2000-01 to 2003-04.

  In September 2001 the Executive announced funding of £810,000 over six years for pilot child pedestrian training schemes. Funding is being provided to selected local authorities to enable them to run pilot training schemes for five- to seven-year-old children, with priority being given to schemes in disadvantaged areas.

Roads

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the construction time taken to upgrade the Fenwick to Malletsheugh section of the A77 is reduced to the minimum amount necessary to secure the effective upgrading of that section of the road.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is tendering for the proposed upgrade as part of a joint PPP scheme with the Glasgow Southern Orbital. The construction programme for the joint project is demanding and includes proposed incentives to encourage the contractor to complete the M77 section of the joint scheme in its entirety, as early as possible.

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultative draft Midlothian Local Plan was a material consideration in the decision not to call in proposals by Midlothian Council for the improvements to the A701 and whether any other plans were taken into consideration, detailing the reasons behind its response on this matter.

Hugh Henry: The consultative draft Midlothian Local Plan was one of a number of material considerations in the decision not to call in proposals by Midlothian Council for transport improvements to the A701. The statutory development plan in this case consisted of the Lothian Structure Plan (approved 1997), the Bonnyrigg and Loanhead Local Plan (adopted 1992) and the Midlothian Villages and Rural Areas Local Plan (adopted 1995).

  The A701 proposal was found to be in accordance with the statutory development plan and, having taken into account all relevant material considerations, the Scottish ministers concluded that there was no justification for them to intervene.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to transferring responsibility for the maintenance and upgrading of the A898 Clyde Tunnel from the local authority to it.

Lewis Macdonald: Responsibility for the A739 Clyde Tunnel rests with Glasgow City Council, while Scottish ministers are responsible for motorways and trunk roads. There are no plans to extend the trunk road network to include the tunnel.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to assisting Glasgow City Council in the funding of the maintenance and upgrade works being undertaken on the Clyde Tunnel.

Lewis Macdonald: The A739 Clyde Tunnel is a local road and is therefore the responsibility of Glasgow City Council. It is entirely a matter for the council to decide what priority should be given to the maintenance and upgrade works on the Clyde Tunnel.

Schools

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any proposals to repair or rebuild old schools in the Clydebank and Milngavie parliamentary constituency.

Nicol Stephen: Proposals to repair or rebuild schools are the responsibility of the education authorities and do not, as a matter of course, have to be referred to the Scottish Executive. The authorities have substantial resources available to them through capital allocations and the School Buildings Improvement Fund for building work in schools according to the priorities they identify.

  Additionally, education authorities were invited in September 2001 to consider whether they wished to submit bids to the Scottish Executive for financial support for Public Private Partnership projects involving work on school buildings. There was an opportunity to submit bids in December 2001 and there is a further opportunity to do so by the end of September 2002. To date, no bid has been received relating to schools in the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.

Schools

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome is of its consideration of the bids for financial support for school Public Private Partnership projects which were submitted by local authorities in December 2001.

Cathy Jamieson: Today we are announcing our response to schools modernisation proposals that we have received from 15 councils. We are also setting out how work will be taken forward on modernising the whole school estate across Scotland.

  This announcement builds on the joint statement agreed with COSLA at Balfron High School last October, and marks the beginning of the biggest ever school building programme in Scotland with a step change in the level of investment that will deliver an ultra-modern learning environment for the future:

  We will support PPP projects across 15 bidding authorities which will see the replacement or substantial refurbishment of around 300 schools. Details are set out in Table 1.

  We are supporting investment of £1.15 billion to deliver this programme.

  We have invited further PPP bids later in the year and will make up to £150,000 funding available to councils to assist them in preparing their Outline Business Case.

  We have established a joint School Estate Strategy Group with COSLA to progress work on local authorities’ school estate plans, a survey of the condition of the school estate, and the development of a national strategy for improvement beyond that announced today.

  £26.7 million will be allocated through the School Buildings Improvement Fund to fund immediate improvement and maintenance work in 2002-03; details are set out in Table 2, in addition to authorities’ own spending on school buildings of around £120 million.

  Table 1 shows the indicative level of PPP investment for which the Executive will provide revenue support in each council area:

  Table 1

  


Council 
  

PPP Capital Investment (£ million) 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

45 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

80 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

100 
  



Dundee 
  

80 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

60 
  



East Lothian 
  

37 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

50 
  



Fife 
  

53 
  



Highland 
  

100 
  



Inverclyde 
  

60 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

125 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

100 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

60 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

150 
  



West Lothian 
  

50 
  



Total 
  

1,150 
  



  Table 2 shows the allocation to local authorities of £26.7 million through the School Buildings Improvement Fund which is a grant for general capital expenditure on school buildings.

  Table 2

  


Aberdeen City 
  

£828,000 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

£1,175,000 
  



Angus 
  

£614,000 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

£576,000 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

£254,000 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

£750,000 
  



Dundee City 
  

£715,000 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

£659,000 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

£679,000 
  



East Lothian 
  

£467,000 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

£529,000 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

£1,745,000 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

£237,000 
  



Falkirk 
  

£715,000 
  



Fife 
  

£1,840,000 
  



Glasgow City 
  

£2,784,000 
  



Highland 
  

£1,204,000 
  



Inverclyde 
  

£500,000 
  



Midlothian 
  

£476,000 
  



Moray 
  

£459,000 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

£742,000 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

£1,935,000 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

£174,000 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

£664,000 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

£923,000 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

£566,000 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

£191,000 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

£614,000 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

£1,769,000 
  



Stirling 
  

£475,000 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

£550,000 
  



West Lothian 
  

£891,000 
  



Total 
  

£26,700,000

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for tackling deprivation in Scotland’s deprived communities.

Ms Margaret Curran: I am pleased to announce the publication today of the Executive’s Community Regeneration Statement, Better Communities in Scotland: Closing the Gap , which sets out how we intend to turn around deprived communities and create a better life for those living in them. While there have been many successful programmes in Scotland, the statement signals a number of important shifts in our approach to regeneration. Firstly, we intend moving away from funding isolated, project-based regeneration initiatives, which have limited impact. We will in future place regeneration within a wider strategic framework, which the community planning process provides. This will result in more cohesion between national, regional and local priorities, better targeting of resources, better quality of services in deprived areas, and more effective community involvement. Secondly, as a consequence of our new policy approach, we intend migrating social inclusion partnerships to community planning partnership funding and management over the next three to four years. Thirdly, we will place a higher priority on providing individuals and communities with the skills and confidence necessary to take advantage of opportunities and to play a full part in the life of their communities. Fourthly, we will put in place a more robust monitoring and evaluation framework that will allow us to measure progress much more effectively than we have done in the past. Together these proposals will make a significant contribution to closing the gap between deprived communities and the rest of Scotland. Copies of the Community Regeneration Statement are available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-26404 on 12 June 2002, what the Parent Company Guarantee entailed and whether it included the reparation of any money lost on the contract.

Sir David Steel: Under the Parent Company Guarantee, the SPCB can claim from the guarantor, Flour City International, all its losses, damages, costs and expenses arising out of the failure of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd to perform its obligations provided that such losses etc would otherwise be recoverable under the Trade Contract.

Holyrood Project

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer,  further to his answer to question S1W-26404 on 12 June 2002, what indemnity arrangements were put in place in regard to the contract with Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd.

Sir David Steel: The only form of indemnity put in place in regard to the contract with Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd was the Parent Company Guarantee.